No More Hill Cards: Students Adjusting to the Verkada Pass App

By Mylee Santos

Stonehill students are getting acclimated to the switch from physical hill cards to the mobile app, Verkada Pass, as a new way to get on campus and into buildings.

The College announced the change a few weeks before students moved back on campus.

The Verkada Pass app uses Bluetooth to connect students’ devices to security equipment. When students enter their dorms, their phone connects to a keypad next to the front door and turns the pad green, unlocking the door. 

“I think it’s better than using the hill card, but it still has its issues,” said senior Matthew Bower.

Some students said they were having issues with the app during the first week of school.

"The app is really finicky because it’s different for each person that I know,” said junior Marissa Caterino.

Caterino said she found the app to work differently amongst herself and her suitemates. 

“For me it will work if I have my Bluetooth headphones on but for some of my suitemates it won’t work,” she said.

Caterino said that there’s an issue if your phone dies and there’s no way to get into the buildings. 

“It’s a huge battery drainer. Every single person I know, their phones are really close to dying, and if your phone dies you can't call an RA, you can’t call the campus police, and you cannot get into the building or the school,” said Caterino.

Senior Allie Callahan has experienced that situation already. 

“The other night my phone died, and I couldn’t get into my building because I couldn’t use the app,” said Callahan.

Opinions on the Verkada app varied as some felt very neutral towards the change.

“I’m a forgetful person, so I lose my phone and my Hill card, so I’m kind of just in the middle of it,” said senior Sinead Hogan.